Dem: There Will be Special Prosecutor and 'Hell to Pay' If IRS Keeps Stonewalling

At a House Oversight Committee hearing today, Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass) said that, if IRS officials continue to dodge questions, the committee have no choice but to get a special prosecutor to get to the bottom of the scandal.

Rep. Lynch warned that, if that's the case, there "will be hell to pay."

"If this committee is prevented by obstruction or by refusal to answer the questions that we need to get to the bottom of this, you will leave us no alternative but to ask for an appointment of a special prosecutor, or appointment of a special committee, to get to the bottom of this," Lynch said.

The Massachusetts Democrat warned that the consequences of this step will leave the IRS with "Hell to pay":

"This is a very serious matter. We would like to handle it in this committee. I watched the last hearing where the IRS had no names and no direction as to who led these investigations, who chose the terms to be used, and basically stonewalled the committee.

"That cannot continue. We know where that will lead. It will lead to a special prosecutor. It will lead to special counsel being appointed to get to the bottom of this.

"So, I hope that's not the approach of the IRS going forward, because there will be Hell to pay if that's the route that we choose to go down."